HISTORICAL FACTS: Jacqueline wilson | History Defined

Nine publishers turned this book down. Now it’s an absolute must-have for all children

BOOKS: As parents and teachers battle to get children off screens and reading for pleasure again, there is one book that is loved by youngsters of all ages – so much so that families admit that their copies are falling apart. Jessie Thompson meets Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt, the…

The Independent UK · Aug 16

The Guardian view on Patrice Lawrence: a children’s laureate for our times

Editorial: The author of the bestselling young-adult novel Orangeboy is ideally suited to address the crisis of teenage masculinity and reading

The Guardian - UK · Jul 12

‘I presumed kids’ books were written by people who were white and dead’: new children’s laureate Patrice Lawrence

The author of Orangeboy, Indigo Donut and Is That Your Mama? plans to use her two-year term to ensure children isolated from reading get involved

The Guardian - UK · Jul 7

5 new podcasts to listen to this week

Here’s our top podcast picks.

The Independent UK · Aug 28, 2025

Russell Kane cosies up to a hamster: best podcasts of the week

The comedian returns with a spin-off of his hit series about evilness – now applied to animals. Plus, Tracy Beaker actor Dani Harmer spills the tea on the magical Jacqueline Wilson

The Guardian - UK · Aug 25, 2025

King ‘told Conclave author he watched papal selection film’

Robert Harris, 68, was made a CBE by Charles, and Dame Jacqueline Wilson was made a Dame Grand Cross.

Evening Standard · Jun 10, 2025

Billy Boston set to become rugby league’s first knight in special investiture

Boston scored 478 tries in 488 matches for Wigan after making the switch from rugby union to league in 1953.

Evening Standard · Jun 10, 2025

Author Philippe Sands was told it is ‘unacceptable’ to read Russian writer Tolstoy amid Ukraine war

‘It is complex,’ said the award-winning writer

The Independent UK · Jun 1, 2025

Conclave writer reveals which two A-list actors were in line to play Ralph Fiennes role

Robert DeNiro was originally meant to play the lead cardinal role, according to Robert Harris

The Independent UK · May 31, 2025

Jacqueline Wilson says it would be ‘inappropriate’ to write about Tracy Beaker’s sex life

‘I would feel very wary about writing about Tracy in an adult book,’ said the author

The Independent UK · May 31, 2025